::''Canton redirects here. For other places with the same name, see [[Canton (disambiguation)]]''

::''Canton redirects here. For other places with the same name, see [[Canton (disambiguation)]]''

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[[Image:Zhujiang_new_town.jpg|thumb|325px|The new Guangzhou skyline with the Canton Tower and Zhujiang New Town.]]

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[[Image:Zhujiang_new_town.jpg|thumb|325px|The new Guangzhou skyline with the Canton Tower and Zhujiang New Town]]

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'''Guangzhou''' or '''Canton''' (广州 ''Guǎngzhōu'', old style Kwangchow or just simply '''GZ''') is the capital of [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]] in southern [[China]]. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 12.7 million, making it the third largest city in China after [[Shanghai]] and [[Beijing]]. If you consider the [[Pearl River Delta]] as a triangle (it isn't exactly), Guangzhou is the inland corner and [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] the two on the sea.

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'''Guangzhou''' or '''Canton''' (广州) , the capital of [[Guangdong|Guangdong Province]], is the third biggest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai with more than 1.2 million population.

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In the era of tea clippers, Guangzhou was known in the West as "'''Canton'''". The food and the language of the area are still known as "Cantonese" and it is perfectly acceptable to use either the western or Chinese term interchangeably. Some Cantonese prefer '''Canton''' to '''Guangzhou''', as '''Guangzhou''' is neither the traditional English name, nor the Cantonese name, which is '''Gwongjau'''. The Cantonese are proud and hardworking people known throughout China and the world over for their famous cuisine and tack for business. One thing you will notice in Downtown Guangzhou is that there is none of the horn honking that is typical in other Chinese cities. Apparently there is a local ordinance prohibiting it. Guangzhou drivers seem to follow the rules of the road a bit more than in other cities where it is generally a free-for-all.

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Mention you are traveling to Guangzhou to most northerners, you will almost expect a remark calling the place 'cultureless'. Fair or not, its isolation from the rest of 'typical China' by mountainous topography and early exposure to the outside world has resulted in its unique way of lifestyle, liberal ideas, distinctive cuisine and tremendous wealth. It is no surprise that Guangzhou is a cradle of many reforms and revolutions that changed the fate of China forever. Today Guangzhou still unveils many republic-era sights that help travelers understand modern China history.

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The city is famous for foreign trade and business doings, and holds China's largest trade fair, the Canton Fair. However, in between the seemingly endless skyscrapers, shopping malls and building sites there is a lot of culture and history. While Guangzhou is not usually high on the list of Asian tourist destinations, it is amazing how much the city actually has to offer.

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As a city found in AD214 and the capital of the richest province, Guangzhou is always a mix of new and old. It not only boosts some oldest temples in China, a millenarian-old park, an imperial tomb of a southern kingdom and complete preservation of colonial villas and church on Shamian, but it also serves as a showcase of futuristic architectures and autopilot metro on Zhujiang New Town.

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Despite its vibrant sight-seeing resources, travelers usually only come to Guangzhou to shop. Guangzhou accommodates countless huge markets specializing in almost any made-in-china products, including Chinese tea, herbs, garments, watches, electronics, and even empty bottles and socks . You will be appalled to see the real prices of those China-made products and the profit your local shops earn by selling them.

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As busy as it sounds, you can easily escape the crowd. Just head to surrounding villages, in which some of them date back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279AD).

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Food is the centerpiece of life and Guangzhou has the largest number of restaurants per capita, which is the birthplace of what you call 'Chinese food' (Cantonese food) in the west. Here you can grab the authentic taste of sweet & sour pork, wonton soup and dim-sum. Few travelers can leave the city hungry.

Revision as of 12:41, 18 November 2012

Guangzhou or Canton (广州) , the capital of Guangdong Province, is the third biggest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai with more than 1.2 million population.

Mention you are traveling to Guangzhou to most northerners, you will almost expect a remark calling the place 'cultureless'. Fair or not, its isolation from the rest of 'typical China' by mountainous topography and early exposure to the outside world has resulted in its unique way of lifestyle, liberal ideas, distinctive cuisine and tremendous wealth. It is no surprise that Guangzhou is a cradle of many reforms and revolutions that changed the fate of China forever. Today Guangzhou still unveils many republic-era sights that help travelers understand modern China history.

As a city found in AD214 and the capital of the richest province, Guangzhou is always a mix of new and old. It not only boosts some oldest temples in China, a millenarian-old park, an imperial tomb of a southern kingdom and complete preservation of colonial villas and church on Shamian, but it also serves as a showcase of futuristic architectures and autopilot metro on Zhujiang New Town.

Despite its vibrant sight-seeing resources, travelers usually only come to Guangzhou to shop. Guangzhou accommodates countless huge markets specializing in almost any made-in-china products, including Chinese tea, herbs, garments, watches, electronics, and even empty bottles and socks . You will be appalled to see the real prices of those China-made products and the profit your local shops earn by selling them.

As busy as it sounds, you can easily escape the crowd. Just head to surrounding villages, in which some of them date back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279AD).

Food is the centerpiece of life and Guangzhou has the largest number of restaurants per capita, which is the birthplace of what you call 'Chinese food' (Cantonese food) in the west. Here you can grab the authentic taste of sweet & sour pork, wonton soup and dim-sum. Few travelers can leave the city hungry.

Understand

At first sight, Guangzhou appears less as a city that is developing than one that is about to explode. Every corner seems to be packed with high-rise buildings, overpasses, and people running marathons. It can be overwhelming, and the initial instinct of many travelers is to leave as soon as possible. However, those that overcome this urge and stay around will discover a gentler and more personable side to the city.

As a major entry point for overseas culture for many centuries, foreigners are not the anomaly here that they are in other Chinese cities. Consequently, travelers are afforded more personal space and freedom. In addition, tucked away in the back streets, the old Guangzhou of traditional neighborhoods still moves at an age-old pace, with families and friends often sitting outdoors enjoying tea and banter.

Guangzhou also has the largest urban park in China, an island of refurbished colonial buildings and some world class galleries and exhibition spaces. In addition, possibly due to the distance from the country's political centers, the citizens of Guangzhou have developed a laid-back and play-hard approach to life.

Today, Guangzhou is recognized as one of China's most prosperous, liberal, and cosmopolitan cities. However, despite being an international trading hub, there is still a lack of English signs. Outside of the business districts and tourist areas, very few locals converse well in English. It is highly recommended to bring a phrase book. Navigating Guangzhou without a phrasebook or understanding of the language will prove to be a difficult task.

Guangzhou is often negatively referred to as the Los Angeles of China, thanks to its sprawl of highways, shopping malls, smog, traffic jams, diverse population and its comparatively high crime-rate. Despite claims of Guangzhou being a dangerous city, it is not dangerous AT ALL! Certainly in comparison to any large western city.

Districts

Layout of Guangzhou

Western central Guangzhou in detail (Liwan and west Yuexiu)

Eastern central Guangzhou in detail (east Yuexiu and Tianhe)

There are ten districts in Guangzhou. Among them, Yuexiu and Liwan, the cradle for the Cantonese culture, has been the city center since the ancient time and house most tourist attractions and are home to many famous restaurants and traditional markets. Tianhe, which was a farming village decades ago, has been constructed into a new business center with some biggest shopping malls and highest skyscrapers in the city.

Liwan (荔湾 Lìwān) — The part on the north of the pearl river is the old Guangzhou and home to the standard Cantonese accent (Xiguan accent). Tourist highlights include the colonial Shamian Island, Xiguan Old Houses, Xiangxiajiu shopping districts, Liziwan Lake Park and Chen's Clan Academy.

Yuexiu (越秀 Yuèxiù) — This is the political and cultural center and includes the old Dongshan (东山, Dōngshān) area. Highlights include Yuexiu Park, Beijing Lu Shopping District, and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall.

Tianhe (天河 Tiānhé) — This is the new city center and business district. It is thriving with many new developments, including skyscrapers, stadium, grand shopping malls. It is also home to the oldest urban village Shipai as well as most expat communities. The district serves as a transportation hub for the international airport and train to Hong Kong. Highlights include Guangdong Museum, Central Library, Opera House and Shipai village.

Haizhu (海珠'Hǎizhū') — Located south of the Pearl River, the district is becoming more business focused, particularly in real estate and trading. Locals refer to this part of Guangzhou as Henan, meaning south of the river. Highlights include the Guangzhou Tower, the Canton Fair Pazhou Exhibition Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, and the Pearl River Promenade.

Baiyun (白云 Báiyún) — This district has a big rural touch, but is slowly being taken over by new developments. Highlights include the Baiyun Mountain.

Huangpu (黄埔 Huángpǔ) — Not well known among foreign tourists, this district is to the east of the city center. Highlights include the former Huangpu Military Academy.

Panyu (番禺 Pānyú) — This is the new area and it focuses on technology and economic development. Highlights include the Lianhua Mountain, various theme parks and the University Mega Center.

Huadu (花都 Huādū) — This is a developing industrial area. Highlights include Huadu Square and the New Baiyun International Airport.

Nansha (南沙 Nánshā) — This is an industrial area at the southern tip of the city. It is the new home to the high speed rail station.

Luogang (萝岗 Luógǎng) — This is the eastern part of the city and is famous for its plum forest. It is not a popular tourist destination, but it does have some historical sites and the famous Tianlu Lake Forest Park.

In addition to the 10 districts, two nearby cities have been drafted into Guangzhou's jurisdiction:

Zengcheng (增城 Zēngchéng) is famous for its lychee fruit, which are picked in June and July.

Conghua (从化 Cónghuà) is known for its hot springs and Tianhe (Heavenly Lake) Recreation area.

History

Formerly known as Canton in the West, the city of Guangzhou has a history dating back roughly 2,200 years.

The symbol of Guangzhou -- the five Rams

A legend tells of five celestial beings riding into the area that is now Guangzhou on five rams carrying sheaves of rice. The celestials bestowed blessings on the land and offered the sheaves to the people of the city as a symbol of prosperity and abundance. After the celestials left, the rams turned into stone, and Guangzhou quickly developed into an affluent and influential city. Due to this legend, Guangzhou has gained several popular nicknames: Yangcheng (羊城; City of Rams), Suicheng (穗城; Sheaves of Rice City) and Wuyangcheng (五羊城; City of Five Rams). In addition, due to the abundance of flowers along the city's main thoroughfares, Guangzhou is often referred to as Huacheng (花城; City of Flowers).

According to historical records, the city was built in 214BC and was known as Panyu (番禺). The name Guangzhou actually referred to the prefecture in which Panyu was located. As the city grew, the name Guangzhou was adopted for the city itself.

As a major sea port, Guangzhou's history is full of color. In 786 the city was sacked by the Persians and in 1711 the British East India Company established a trading post here. In 1757, the government designated the city as the only port allowed business transactions with foreign nations. This continued until 1842, the signing of the Treaty of Nanking, when four other ports were added. Losing the exclusive privilege pushed Guangzhou to become more industrialized later.

Guangzhou was also part of the so called "Maritime Silk Road" that linked southern China with India, South-East Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. As a result of its links with the Middle East, a mosque was established in the city in 627, and a small Muslim community continues to live in Guangzhou to this day. Additionally, the sixth patriarch of Zen Buddhism was born in Guangzhou and taught the famous Platform Sutra in the city. As a result, Guangzhou has retained a strong connection with this school of Buddhism, and the monastery where the sixth patriarch studied is considered a local treasure. The first Protestant missionary in China, Robert Morrison, entered Guangzhou in 1807. This started the spread of Christianity in the country.

When to visit

In terms of climate, the best time to visit Guangzhou is between October and November. Alternatively, April and May are also good months. Guangzhou has a sub-tropical climate with humidity levels at their highest in the summer. Temperature can reach almost 40 degrees Celsius. Typhoon season is from June to September. Please note that the Canton Fair takes place annually during the Weeks from Mid-April to Early May and Mid-October to Early November, so finding accommodation at those times can be difficult and expensive. See the information section under Sleep.

The airport is 28 km (17 mi) north from central Guangzhou. The most convenient way into the city is by Metro Line 3. The lower level of the airport terminal leads to the Airport South Metro station. A journey to the East Railway Station, or to Tiyu Xilu Metro station (both ¥12) takes about 50 minutes. Trains run every seven minutes, with the first train leaving the airport at 6AM and the last train from and to the airport departing at 11PM.

Taxis are also available and take about the same time as the Metro. A taxi ride to central Guangzhou will cost about ¥120, inclusive of a ¥15 toll fee. Taxi stations are available outside Arrival Hall Section A Gate 5 and Arrival Hall Section B Gate 6.

Seeing rural Guangzhou from an Airport Express bus.

Airport Express buses operate just outside the arrival terminal, but are a distant second to the metro in reliability and comfort. If you have more than one piece of luggage or if a line has a stop at your hotel, this may be your top choice. Line 1 (¥16) departs every 10-15 minutes from 7AM until the last flight and takes 45 minutes to reach the Guangzhou Railway Station and Central Hotel. The ticket prices range from ¥10-55. Lines 1 to 6 are traveling within the metropolitan area, while lines 7-11 go to outer districts. There are also direct Airport Express buses to some cities in the Pearl River Delta region, such as Zhuhai and Foshan. However, there is no direct bus to Macau or Hong Kong.

Do not accept solicitations for rides to the city. Sometimes, people will stand at the arrival area and ask if you need a taxi. These are illegally operated and use unmarked vehicles, or charge you a fee, offer you a phony receipt, and then arrange a taxi that will still charge you. They usually cost a lot more than licensed taxis since many travelers do not know the cost of airport transportation.

Flying to Hong Kong is another option. From the Hong Kong International Airport, you can take cross-boundary coach to Guangzhou and other cities in Guangdong. Service providers include China Travel Service, Trans-Island Chinalink and Eternal East. Fares range from HK$220-250 one way.

By train

Hong Kong - Guangzhou through train timetable

Train no.

Hung Hom(departure)

GZ East(arrival)

T812*

7:25AM

9:20AM

T824*

8:18AM

10:09AM

T820*

9:24AM

11:19AM

T804*

10:42AM

12:37PM

T808

11:28AM

1:23PM

T814

12:14PM

2:09PM

T826*

1:10PM

3:01PM

T818*

2:47PM

4:42PM

T810*

4:35PM

6:29PM

T828*

5:50PM

7:41PM

T816*

6:35PM

8:30PM

T802*

7:24PM

9:19PM

Current as of Sep 2011* denotes a stop-over in Dongguan (Changping station)

Trains cover the 182 kilometers from Hong Kong in about two hours, including a stop at Dongguan. Through Trains to Guangzhou East Railway Station depart from Hong Kong at Hung Hom railway station in Kowloon and arrive in Guangzhou at the East station. Through train services are operated by Hong Kong MTR. [3]. The one-way journey price starts from 190HKD-230HKD.

It is cheaper to take the Guangshen intercity train service (广深城际列车) from Shenzhen to Guangzhou East Railway Station. Some trips also stop at Guangzhou Railway Station. Shenzhen is right across the border from Hong Kong and thousands of people walk over the bridge between the two every day through Luohu (罗湖). Tickets can be bought at the Shenzen Rail Station in Luohu. The one-way journey price starts from ¥80.

A project is underway to link the entire Pearl River Delta area with high speed (300+ km/h) railway network. The Zhuhai-Guangzhou, Guangzhou-Shenzhen have opened in 2011, and the journey takes just 57 minutes and 35 minutes respectively. However, the stations are far from the city centers. A new long distance line from Guangzhou to Wuhan is open. It travels through major cities such as Changsha and Shaoguan. It takes only less than over 3 hours for a journey to Wuhan, nearly 1,000 km away. One way ticket is from ¥490. This train holds the current world record for commercial train services in term of average speed. This is part of a nationwide high-speed network that is under construction. Eventually, this will allow a 7-hour Guangzhou-Beijing ride. Guangzhou South Railway Station (广州南站) is the new home to the high-speed train services.

It is possible to book a train ticket from Guangzhou to Lhasa, Tibet. The 4,980 km journey takes 54 hours and 39 minutes and runs every other day from Guangzhou Station (广州站). A sleeper costs ¥923 and up. The last stretch is on the new Qinghai-Tibet railway; for discussion see Overland to Tibet.

Bear in mind there are now three major train stations in Guangzhou. Countless travelers have gone to the wrong station and missed their scheduled trips, so be sure of your departing station, which is specified on the ticket.

Guangzhou East Railway Station (广州东站, Dong-Zhan) services routes to Hong Kong and some mainland cities. Metro line 1 ends here.

Guangzhou Railway Station (广州站, Guangzhou-Zhan) is one of the biggest in the country and services routes that go all the way to Harbin. Metro lines 2 and 5 have a connection stop here.

Guangzhou South Railway Station (广州南站, Nan-Zhan) is the newest and serves the high-speed network.

Guangzhou also has several other stations such as the North Station and West Station. There are also name variations for each of the stations. Be sure to use official names to avoid confusion.

Although some signs are available in English, staff may not understand English well enough, except at the Guangzhou-Kowloon counter. Bring a phrasebook or a Chinese friend if you're planning on traveling deeper into China.

By bus

Coach services are available to bring passengers from Hong Kong International Airport to several locations in Guangzhou. Among the destinations are recognizable landmarks like Jinan University (暨南大学) on Huangpu Avenue (黄埔大道), Garden Hotel (花园酒店) and China Hotel (中国大酒店) (see hotel section). The trip takes about 3+ hours and costs 250 HKD. There are also cross border bus terminals throughout Hong Kong. One of the Stations is at Austin Road and Canton Road near Kowloon Park. A one way ticket costs about 100 HKD.

Domestically, it is possible to hop on a bus from any corner of Guangdong province and get to Guangzhou. There are also many options from nearby provinces like Guangxi, Hubei and Fujian. Here are some of the main stations in the city:

Tianhe Station (天河客运站) (633 Yanling Road 燕岭路633号) (Metro 3) The station services Southern and central China, reaching as far as the Gansu Province. There are also many routes to cities in Guangdong.

Haizhu Station (海珠客运站) (182 Nanzhou Road 南洲路182号) (Metro 2 Nanzhou Station Exit A) The station is located in the southern part of Haizhu, servicing major cities in the province and other Southern China provinces, including Hainan.

Yuexiu Nan Station (越秀南汽车站) (越秀南东园横2号) Other than desintations in the province and other provinces, it also has lines to Macau and Hong Kong.

Guangzhou South (广州南汽车客运站) The station mainly services nearby cities. There is a bus to Lo Wu, a commonly used border crossing between Hong Kong and mainland China. The fare is ¥65 and it runs every hour.

Please note that English and Chinese names of bus stations vary from one sign to another -- coach terminal, coach station, bus terminal, bus station, passenger terminal or passenger station. Be aware that the different names may be referring to the same station.

By boat

There is a frequent ferry and hovercraft service from Hong Kong, Macau, and Haikou (Hainan Island) at the Zhoutouzui Ferry Pier (洲头咀码头). There are boats from other mainland cities, such as Xiamen, Shanghai, and Qingdao at the Dashatou Pier (大沙头码头).

New Nansha Port(南沙港客运) is operating 4 lines traveling from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, Macau, and the Hong Kong International Airport. The trip takes 75 minutes to Hong Kong. Note that Nansha is very far from the city center, although there are various bus pickup points from the city center and Panyu. The port is 1.6km south of Humen Bridge in Nansha.

Get around

Guangzhou has a fairly efficient and rapidly expanding public transportation system. If you intend to stay in Guangzhou for an extensive period of time, purchase a multi-purpose Ling Nan Tong - Yang Cheng Tong (岭南通-羊城通) stored value card, similar to the Octopus Card in Hong Kong. The card can now be used in selected metro areas in the Guangdong province. It can be used not only for public transportation (bus, subway, parking meters and some taxis), but also for public phones and designated shops, places of interests and certain vending machines. The card includes a ¥30 refundable deposit. You can purchase and recharge the cards in many places, such as some 7-11s, Metro customer service counters, and Tiantian Laundry. Returning your card at the end of the trip can be done at any Yang Cheng Tong service centers. The best locations include centers near metro station Gongyuanqian Exit J, Tiyu Xi Exit G, and East Rail Station exit HJ. It may be worth it to simply keep the card as a souvenir.

By subway

Guangzhou Metro

Guangzhou's Metro system[4] opened in 1999 and has been expanding at a breakneck pace ever since. The network covers much of the city center and is growing rapidly outward. The fare ranges from ¥2 to ¥19. Most of the signs and announcements are in Chinese and English. Tickets can be bought from vending machines in the stations. ¥5 and ¥10 Bills or ¥0.5 and ¥1 coins are accepted. You can break up your big bills at the customer service counters. The ticket is a small plastic token, which you swipe over the blue reader at the gate to enter the platform, and at the exit where you insert the token into the slot like a vending machine. Most of these machines do not accept old or torn notes. If needed, tell the officer at the counter where you want to go and he or she will return your note with the requisite fare in coins and the rest in notes. It is easier to use Yang Cheng Tong (see details above). You also receive a 5%-40% discount when the card is used to ride the subway.

There are currently 8 lines in operation:-
Line 1 is the most useful for tourists, running south-west to north-east from Xilang in Fangcun to Guangzhou East Railway Station in Tianhe. The line runs underneath Zhongshan Road in the city centre and is the most useful for accessing shopping areas and tourist sights.

Line 2 runs north-south from Jiahewanggang in Baiyun District to Guangzhou South Railway Station. This line is most useful for reaching Baiyun Mountain, Guangzhou Railway Station, Yuexiu Park and Haizhou Square. If you're staying in west or central Guangzhou, this line is also useful for reaching the airport by changing to Line 3 at Jiahewanggang.

Line 3 is a Y-shaped north-south line serving eastern Guangzhou. The 'main line' runs from Panyu Square to the Tianhe Intercity Coach Station, whilst the 'branch line' splits off at Tiyu Xilu and heads towards Airport South, via Guangzhou East Station.

Line 4 serves Guangzhou's eastern outer suburbs and runs from Huangcun in Huangpu District down to Jinzhou in Nansha. This line is most useful for reaching the Olympic Sport Centre and the University Town.

Line 5 runs east-west from Jiaokou (Liwan District) to Wenchong (Huangpu District) and follows the inner ring road through the city. Useful for reaching Guangzhou Railway Station, the Garden Hotel and Zhujiang New Town.

Line 8 was formed out of the remnants of Line 2 following it's southward extension and runs east-west through Haizhu District from Fenghuang Xincun to Wanshengwei. Useful for reaching Sun Yat-sen University and Pazhou Exhibition Centre.

Zhujiang New Town APM is a driverless people-mover serving downtown Tianhe District and is the least-used line on the Metro (which is handy if you want to avoid the most crowded section of Line 3. The line has 9 stops running from Linhexi to Chigang Pagoda and serves many tourist sights in the area including Guangzhou Opera House, Haixinsha Island (where the opening ceremony for the 2010 Asian Games was held) and the Canton Tower. Note that this line uses separate tickets (flat fare 2 yuan, 5% discount with the Yangchengtong card). Unlike other metro lines, you should insert your token at the entrance gate - the exit gates open automatically when approached.

Guangfo Line is China's first intercity railway, connecting downtown Foshan with Xilang, where you can transfer to Line 1. Central Foshan can be reached in approximately 45-60 minutes from central Guangzhou. Transfers from GZ metro lines and Yangchengtong cards are accepted.

By bus

There is also a comprehensive public bus service that covers Guangzhou from end to end. By far, it is the cheapest way to move around. Bus fares are ¥1 for the older buses and ¥2 for the air-conditioned ones, although the older buses have been mostly retired. Information at bus stops is mostly written in Chinese, although the current stop's name is also written in either pinyin or English (not always consistent with the recorded announcement in English) and stops close to subway stations are (usually) marked with the Guangzhou Metro logo, which is handy if you are lost. On-board announcements are made in Mandarin, Cantonese and sometimes English. Exact fare or a Yang Cheng Tong card is needed when boarding. If traveling on a quiet bus, it is advisable to signal to the driver that you wish to get off when approaching your stop by pressing the red buzzer next to the exit door or by saying "xia yi zhan you xia (pinyin:xià yī zhàn yǒu xià)," meaning "I'm getting off at the next stop" or simply "you xia (有下, pinyin:yǒu xià)." In Cantonese "you xia" is "yau lok(有落)."

Bus stops served by many routes are usually divided into multiple sections, each one with a different number. The stops are usually all on the same side of the road, one after another, but in some cases (such as Haizhu Square), the stops are found all over the place.

Buses are only handy for traveling within one district or for reaching suburban districts that are not served by the subway. Heavy traffic can lead to a slow, uncomfortable journey although they can be handy for a cheap but slow sightseeing tour. Trolley bus lines (Routes 101-109) are handy for exploring Liwan and Yuexiu districts.

Most bus routes run from around 6am to 10 or 11pm, after which there are night buses with the prefix Ye (夜, night). The night route numbers are not related to the normal route numbers. The fare is usually ¥3. Virtually all night buses stop running around 1 or 2am, and some start again around 5am. In most cases, taking a taxi at night is a better idea.

Guangzhou has over 30 commuter express bus lines (高峰快线) run mostly during peak hours from major bus and subway interchanges to congested areas and outlying districts. Fares are from ¥1-4. There are also four special lines for University Town (大学城专线). You can find these in most major stations in the city that would take you to University Town. Fares are from ¥2-4. There are also 2 tourist bus lines (旅游专线) passing through many scenic spots in the city. Other special lines are: Lines to some commercial districts, shuttle buses for many different residential complexes such as Favourview Palace and Star River, and even complementary shuttle buses for some shopping center. The driver of a shuttle bus may ask for your receipts.

By BRT

The Bus Rapid Transit system went into service in early 2010. It is essentially a long segregated bus lane (not an elevated busway like in Xiamen) running along the Tianhe Road and Zhongshan Avenue corridor towards the eastern suburbs. Some intersections are traversed by bridges and tunnels, which cuts journey times considerably, but other intersections have traffic lights and therefore traffic jams, and crowds can be as dense as in Metro stations but with fewer doors and a narrower standing area compared to Metro trains.

All buses that use the BRT start with a B prefix (B1, B22 etc.), though some without the "B" stop nearby. When reading a bus route (in Chinese) you can see the BRT logo above each BRT station name, like the GZ Metro logo above bus stops that are near Metro stations. The B1 stops at every BRT station, but other B routes use any number of BRT stations (sometimes just one) and use normal roads the rest of the time.

If boarding a BRT bus at a normal (non BRT) bus stop, the normal fare of ¥2 applies, however you can transfer to other BRT routes for free, provided you transfer at a BRT stop. If boarding at a BRT stop, insert ¥2 (coins only) into the entry turnstile to enter the platform area; no payment is required when boarding the bus, and you can board at the rear.

As with normal bus routes, there is almost no English at BRT stations, and only the current station name is in pinyin. Overall it isn't much use to tourists.

By taxi

This is the most popular way for foreigners to get around, and it is very affordable. The starting charge is ¥10 for the first 2.6 kilometers, or about 1.6 miles. After that is ¥2.6 for each kilometer. No fuel surcharge is added. A 50% surcharge is automatically added when the trip reaches 35 kilometers. A few of them also accepts Yang Cheng Tong as payment, but it is not preferred by the drivers. The taxi hotline is 96900. This comes in handy if you forget your valuables in a taxi. Save your receipt because it contains the taxi's identification number.

Most taxi drivers do not speak English or any other foreign languages, so be sure to have the name and address of your destination written in Chinese to show your taxi driver. Many are from the poorer northern provinces and do not even speak Cantonese. If your destination is not well known, have a nearby landmark included in the address, e.g. "across from the Garden Hotel."

Whilst the majority of taxis are the regular VWs and Hyundais found in almost all Chinese cities, there are an increasing number of 'London taxis' on the streets of Guangzhou (which comes as no surprise as the latest generation of London black cabs are built by Geely Motors in China). They are wheelchair accessible and can carry up to 6 passengers. Many people recommend using the yellow taxis as that company only employs local Guangzhou drivers who know the city well - other taxi companies usually hire migrant workers from other provinces who may not know where they are going.

Beware of taxi driver as sometimes, in addition to going around the block one too many times, they will also try to pass counterfeit bills. Pay close attention as to what they pay when passing toll booths. Good drivers will show you the toll receipts. Only add the toll amount to what is displayed in the meter. A trip between the airport to the East Railway Station cost around ¥120-130.

Most people find taxi drivers in Guangzhou to be honest. However, during the Canton Fair near the Pazhou Complex, it is common to see drivers violate rules, such as refusal of service and pre-negotiating a price rather than using the meter. It is also difficult to find an available taxi elsewhere in the city.

Most taxi shift changes take place between 3-5PM. During this time, it is hard to find a taxi as many drivers stop working by displaying the "out of service (暂停服务)" sign before the end of the shift, unless you are going in their direction. Taxi can be also hard to come by during commuter peak hours of 7:30-9AM and 5-7PM. Finding a taxi at night is usually not a problem.

By car

While driving in Guangzhou is an option, drivers unfamiliar with the driving conditions in China's large and densely populated cities should be aware that the experience can be extremely daunting and potentially dangerous. However, it is common in Guangzhou to rent a car that comes with a driver.

By motorcycle

Although a convenient way to navigate the city's back alleys and lanes, motorcycles are banned in the city center, and riding a motorcycle into these prohibited areas can lead to fines and possible confiscation of the bike. In addition to the central motorcycle ban, electric bicycles are banned from the city roads.

By bicycle

Due to the improvement of public transportation and increasing affordability of private cars, bicycles are in sharp decline in Guangzhou. In recent years, the government has been promoting this low-carbon mode of transportation. Over 100 rental outlets are now available along many BRT lines and subway stations. The rental fee is by the hour and up to ¥30 a day. One popular bike route is along the Pearl River on the Haizhu District side. Other dedicated bike lanes are slowly appearing in the city center, including Tianhe District. Yangchengtong Card is accepted in many public rental outlets.

New bikes are available in major hypermarkets from ¥200 for a cheap single-speed to around ¥800 for a 21-speed mountain bike, although quality leaves a lot to be desired. Giant and Merida are the two most common international brands (both are from Taiwan) and whilst a little more expensive (expect to spend over ¥1000 for anything with more than 1 gear), they offer something a little faster and of better quality. Get a decent quality lock too - bike theft is rampant!

Folding bikes are permitted on the subway (but not on buses) and can be carried in the trunk of a taxi at the driver's discretion, but non-folders are not permitted on any form of public transport other than the cross-river ferries. Bicycles are not permitted to cross the river via the Zhujiang Tunnel or Zhujiang suspension bridge, but are permitted to go on the public ferries for ¥1 (see below).

By ferry

The ferries are the cheapest way of crossing the Pearl River (Zhujiang). They were very popular in the 1980s and early 90s, carrying tens of thousands of people across the river each day. Nowadays its popularity declines greatly, mostly because of the construction of many bridges along the Pearl River and the availability of other public transportation. The river narrows while going through the city center (a bit wider than the Thames in central London). It is usually faster and more convenient to use the bridges or public transport(metro, bus) to cross the river, rather than wait for the ferries. One ferry route that still remains popular is between the Huangsha Pier by the seafood market next to Shamian Island and the pier on Bai-e-tan Bar Street (Changdi Road) in Fangcun. It departs every 10 minutes from 6AM to 10PM. The fare is ¥0.5 for a foot passenger or ¥1 if you bring a bicycle. The fare can be paid in cash (no change given) or by using Yangchengtong Card. There are separate boarding gates for cyclists and pedestrians, and you pay at the boarding gate.

On foot

Due to the sheer size of the city, walking is not advisable if you are trying to reach destinations in different districts. However, walking is a great way of exploring individual districts, and treats such as markets, small antiquities shops and local restaurants can be found up almost every little alley. Walking along main roads can be a nightmare - construction work can result in some inconvenient pedestrian diversions. Open manhole covers or sidewalks blocked by huge piles of cement are common. Take caution when crossing roads, even when the light is green, as bicycles and cars routinely expect everyone to move out of their way and drive through blindly. Many major intersections must be crossed using complex underpasses and footbridges. Make sure you have a map with you. It is all too easy to get lost in the rabbit-warren of small streets and alleys, even if some street signs are also in English.

Talk

Natives of Guangzhou speak Cantonese natively, but due to the large number of migrants from other parts of China, many of whom do not speak Cantonese, Mandarin also serves as the lingua franca. As the Guangzhou dialect of Cantonese is far less influenced by foreign languages than that of Hong Kong, this is a good place, to learn the language in its "purest" form. As Mandarin is the official language of mainland China and the medium of instruction in all schools, most younger locals will be bilingual in Cantonese and Mandarin. While Mandarin is sufficent for the average visitor, breaking into the social circles of locals would almost certainly require knowledge of Cantonese.

English is spoken by more people than in the rest of China (save for Beijing and Shanghai), but still not by the majority, so it is a good idea to carry your hotel's business card with you. To save yourself the hassle and agony when asking for directions, have names of your destinations clearly written down in Chinese by the hotel staff before venturing out. That said, many educated younger people will have a basic knowledge of English and staff at hotels as well as bars and restaurants widely visited by foreigners generally speak an acceptable level of English.

See

Landmarks

Sun Yat Sen Memorial

Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral, on Shamian Island

Chen Clan Academy (陈家祠 chén-jiā-cí) [6] Zhongshan 7th Road (中山七路) (Metro 1 Chan Clan Academy - Exit D). This is very well preserved architecture from the 19th century. It used to belong to a wealthy family by the name of Chen and now houses many articles including ivory sculptures and artistic statues. (Admission ¥10)

Shishi Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral (石室圣心大教堂 shí-shì-shèng-xīn-jiào-táng) 56 Yide Road (一德路旧部前)(Metro 2 Haizhu Square Exit B1).It is one of the oldest church structures in the city, and the largest of its kind of Southern China. It is currently in use for worship. Visiting hours are weekdays 8:30-11:30AM and 2:30-5:30PM; weekends 8:30AM-5PM. Free admission.

Memorial of the Huangpu Military Academy (黄埔军校旧址 huáng-pǔ-jūn-xiào-jiù-zhǐ) is on Changzhou Island (Metro 5, Yuzhu Exit D. take 431 bus to the Ferry to Changzhou Pier.). The original Military Academy was founded in 1924 by Sun Yat-sen, with support from the Chinese Communist Party and the Soviet Union. The mission of the Academy was to create an officer corps for the new Chinese Republic. Many famous Chinese war heroes were trained here. The original site was destroyed by the Japanese in 1938. Two exhibition halls on the Campus of the Academy cover the History of the Academy with English translations. Unfortunately the other exhibition halls, such as Heroes of the Academy, do not have English translations. The site is far from the city center. Free admission.

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂 zhōng-shān-jì-niàn-táng) (Metro 2 Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall - Exit C) located on Dongfeng Middle Road, is dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China and local hero Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. It was constructed in 1931 and built on the original site of Sun Yat-sen's presidential office on Yuexiu Hill. Open 8AM-6PM. Admission is free for the park and ¥10 to go inside the hall.

Canton Tower (广州塔) (Metro 3, APM Chigang Pagoda) is the tallest structure in China. In additions to the observation deck, the tower features various restaurants, a 4-D theater and other entertainment venues. Admission is ¥150.

Xiguan Residence (西关大屋 xī-guān-dà-wū) (Metro 1 Changshou Lu) See the traditional Cantonese architectures from the Qing Dynasty. These houses can be found in Duobao Road (多宝路), Baohua Road (宝华路), Longjin West Road (龙津西路) and Shangxiajiu Road (上下九路). One of the most famous ones is located at 18 Baoyuan North Street (宝源北街18号). They were occupied by the upper class in the old days.

Guangzhou Traditional Buildings (骑楼) are slowly disappearing due to the rapid growth in the city. Remaining buildings can be found near Yide Road, Renmin Nan Road and Zhongshan Road. They make great photo spots.

Liurong Temple (六榕寺 liù-róng-sì) 87 Liurong Road (六榕路) (Metro 1 Gongyuanqian Exit I)– The Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which includes the 17 story, eight-sided Hua Ta, or Flowering Pagoda, is one of the most popular attractions in Guangzhou. The temple dates back to the 6th century, while the pagoda predates it by about 300 years. Admission is ¥5; Flower Pagoda ¥10.

Shamian Island (沙面岛) (Metro 1 Huangsha Exit D) The buildings and streets of the former British and French concession have been beautifully renovated, creating an oasis of tranquility in an otherwise bustling and hectic metropolis. One of the old structures is Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, located at 14 Shamian Street. The architecture reflects the colonial era of 19th Century, and it has a unique atmosphere.

Bright Filial Piety Temple (Guangxiao Temple) (光孝寺 guāng-xiào-sì) 109 Guangxiao Road (光孝路) (Metro 1 Ximenkou Exit C) – As the sixth patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Hui Neng, trained at this temple in the 7th Century, it is a popular pilgrimage site for Zen Buddhists. The temple has been destroyed several times by fire, and the current buildings date back to the mid-19th century. Admission is ¥10; free if you eat at the temple's vegetarian restaurant (菩提甘露坊). You can also apply your admission toward your meal.

Huaisheng Mosque (怀圣寺 huái-shèng-sì) 56 Guangta Road (光塔路) (Metro 1 Ximenkou Exit C). This is one of the oldest Muslim mosques in China, built in 627. The mosque is open to Muslims only and not open to the general public, but you can take a peek outside.

Former Residence of Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全故居:Hóngxiùquán gùjū), +8602036861225, +8602086832232,Address:广州市花都区新华街道大布村官禄布（Guǎngzhōushì huādūqū xīnhuá jiēdào dàbùcūnguān lùbù), The former home of the quasi-Christian leader of the Taiping Rebellion that resulted in the death of about 20 million people during the late Qing dynasty. Shortly after failing the imperial examinations on multiple occasions, Hong Xiuquan became delusional and claimed to have received visions in his dreams that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ destined to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Nanjing as its captial.

Yuanxuan Taoist Temple (圆玄道观) is located in the Huadu District. It includes three Taoist buildings in one complex: Sanqing Hall, Taihe Hall and Yuanchen Hall. Sanqing Hall is the most architecturally important of the three structures, while Yuanxuan Taoist Temple has carvings of divine beings. The central hall is covered by yellow glazed tiles and decorated with the bright images of Yuqing, Shangqing and Taiqing, the three authoritative deities in Taoism. The temple is located near Bi Village in southwest Xinhua Town. You can take the No. 9 bus from Huadu Downtown. Admission is ¥10.

Xiaozhou Village (小洲村) The village is a short taxi ride from University City. Some travelers describe this district as full of historical buildings, fruit orchards and canals and relate that, in recent years, this has become artists' haven. Others report that recent development has obliterated all traces of the village and that the district is a typical industrial suburb adjoining a huge field used as an outdoor latrine.

Xiao Bei / Siu Bak (小北) So basically, this is Guangzhou's chocolate ville, banners here are written in at least 4 languages: Chinese, English, French and Arabic. This is probably one of Guangzhou's most diverse neighborhood! You'll find delicious middle eastern restaurants before you meander into the side streets full of Africans. Even the chinese salespeople here have thich African accent when they speak English. You may feel like you're in Africa, but this is Guangzhou. To get there, take GZ Metro Line 5, Xiaobei Station.

Museums and galleries

Guangdong Museum (广东省博物馆新馆) (Metro 3,5 Zhujiiang New Town Exit B1; APM Opera House Exit C) Open 9AM-5PM, Tue-Sun. The new museum is located in Zhujiang New Town, not to be confused with the old Guangdong Museum near Metro 1 Peasant Movement Institute Station. This is the biggest museum in the city. It covers Guangzhou's history, culture, science and nature. Arrive early as admission is limited to 5,000 per day. Personal ID is required to obtain free tickets at ticket office.

Guangzhou City Art Museum (广州美术馆) guǎng-zhōu-měi-shù-guǎn (Metro 2 Yuexiu Park) Located next to the Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park, this impressive gallery has more than 10,000 pieces of art work, including calligraphy, traditional Chinese paintings, sculptures and Tibetan Buddhist art (Thangka). Admission is ¥10 with visit to Guangzhou Museum (See Yuexiu Park).

Guangdong Museum of Art (广东美术馆) [7]guǎng-dōng-měi-shù-guǎn, 8 Yanyu Road (烟雨路8号) The museum is on Er-Sha Island. It focuses on contemporary Chinese art with particular emphasis on Guangdong artists. Personal ID is required to obtain free tickets at ticket office. Visitors are limited to 3,000 a day. Admission is required for special exhibits. Open 9AM-5PM, Tue-Sun.

Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King (西汉南越王博物馆) [8], +86 20 3618-2920, 867 Jiefang North Road (解放北路878号), (Metro 2 Yuexiu Park Exit E) Across from Yuexiu Park, this is a tomb for the king of ancient South China during the Western Han era. 9AM-5:30PM daily. Admission is ¥12.

Guangzhou Uprising Museum (广州起义旧址纪念馆) 200 Qiyi Road (起义路200号)(Metro 1, 2 Gongyuanqian Exit J). The Museum is at the site of the first Communist government building. Open 9AM—12PM and 1:30PM-4:30PM Tue–Fri; 10AM-4:30PM Sat-Sun. Free Admission.

Guangzhou Ocean(广州海洋馆) Situated within Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou Ocean World covers an area of 13,000 square meters (about 139,931 square feet) and has more than 200 kinds of fish and many other rare ocean creatures. It is a high-tech exhibition hall serving sightseeing, entertainment, research and education purposes.

Guangdong Revolutions History Museum (广东革命历史博物馆) 2 Lingyuan West Road (陵园西路2号大院), (Located in the martyrs memorial park. Metro 1 Martyrs' Park Exit D). Sun Yat-Sen was sworn in here in 1921 as the president of Republic of China. The museum tells stories from the Opium War to the founding of the new China. Free Admission.

Peasant Movement Institute (农民运动讲习所 nóng-jiǎng-suǒ) 42 Zhongshan 4th Road (中山四路42号),(Metro 1, Peasant Movement Institute Exit C). This is the original site of Communist training center founded by Mao Tse-tung in the 1920s. Now it is a museum covering recent China revolutionary history. Open 9AM-4:30PM Tue-Sun. Free admission.

Redtory (红专厂) [10] 128 Yuancun 4th Cross Road (员村四横路128号) Once a can food factory, this old facility is transformed into galleries for contemporary artists. There are also Restaurants and shops, which blend in well with artistic surroundings. +86 20 8557-4346.

Parks

Yuntai Garden

Communist monument in Martyrs' Memorial Garden

Yuexiu Park (越秀公园) yuè-xiù-gōng-yuán, (Metro 2 Yue Xiu Park Station Exit B1)[11] is the largest urban park in China and is a lush green area that flows over acres of hills and includes several lakes. It includes the Ming Dynasty Zhenhai Tower (镇海楼) zhèn-hǎi-lóu, now home to the Guangzhou Museum[12]with relics on five floors dating back 5,000 years ago and an up-to-date miniature of modern Guangzhou. Admission is ¥10. Hours 9:00 - 11:30, 13:00 - 17:00. Also check out the Stone Statue of the Five Rams (五羊石像), the symbol of Guangzhou (See Understand). Open 6AM-9PM. Free Admission.

Yuntai Garden (云台花园)(Tour Bus No. 1, 3) [13]yún-tái-huā-yuán is situated at the foot of Baiyun (White Cloud) Mountain and is famous for its wide variety of rare flowers and trees. There are also seasonal exhibits (additional admission). Admission is ¥10.

Green Walk(东濠涌)(Metro 1, Peasant Movement Institute) This is in Yuexiu District, under the Donghaoyong Elevated Road.

Lingnan Impression(岭南印象园) (Metro 4, Higher Education Mega Center South Exit B) [15] This is a place to see the city's past before the economic boom. The park is 15 minute walk from the subway station. Free shuttle is available on the weekend. Admission is ¥45.

Baomo Garden (宝墨园) is located in Panyu District, rebuilt in the 1990s from a destroyed ancient garden. Hours 8:30AM-6:00PM; Admission is ¥45.

Huanghua Gang Commemoration Park (黄花岗公园), huáng-huā-gǎng-gōng-yuán, [16] 79 Xianlie Middle Road (先烈中路79号) +86 20 3758-8321. Open 6AM-8:30PM. This is a park that will set you in a poignant mood. The main attraction is the monument built to commemorate the 72 martyrs who died during the 1911 uprising. Free admission.

Huadu Square (花都广场) huā-dū-guǎng-chǎng is a park-cum-recreation square located in the north part the city and near the government office buildings of Huadu District (花都区). The square incorporates, among other attractions, an outdoor theater, large fountain, outdoor dance area and statues. There is a large grass area that is similar to a Western style meadow and a subtropical forest and ornamental flower beds.

Taoist temple Five fairy Taoist temple is located in Hui Fu Xi Lu of the center of Guangzhou. is the historical markers of that Guangzhou has been founded 2000 years.

Million Sunflower Garden(百万葵园) Sunflower Garden million theme park, located in Panyu, Guangzhou Wanqingsha town, covers an area of 260,000 square meters, planting one million sunflower, become the first in the country house, all imported seeds (mainly Japan) ornamental sunflower park.

Mountains

Baiyun Mountain (White Cloud Mountain) (白云山 bái-yún-shān)[19] is a great place to relax and enjoy a day among lush, rolling hills. It also offers great views over the city. The road to the top in most of the daytime is restricted to park trams and pedestrians. To get to the top lookout point, you can use the main roads or trails. There are many places to rest and refreshments are available along the way. It is a great place to see people enjoying nature and playing games, such as shuttlecock, badminton, football and even bungee jumping. There are many bus routes to and from different parts of the city, as well as taxis usually available near the park gate. Open 24 hours. Park entrance ¥5; Cable car round trip ¥40; tram from ¥20; other attractions ¥5-¥10; packages available from ¥25.

Lianhua Shan (Lotus Mountain) (莲花山 lián-huā-shān) features an impressive quarry from which red sand stones were mined about 2,000 years ago, a pagoda from 1612, and a barrack from 1664. The obligatory statue of Guanyin, the Buddhist Goddess of compassion, at the side of the Buddhist temple is also not to be missed. From Guangzhou, take Metro line 4 and exchange bus at Shiji Station. There are ferry services from Guangzhou at Tianzi Pier (天字码头)(¥20) and Xidi Pier (西堤码头)(¥25). The boat leaves at 8:15AM and returns at 3:15PM. Admission is ¥40.

Learn

Being the largest university in Guangdong by size, SCAU's history can be traced back to 1909. Over nearly a hundred years, SCAU has grown into a multi-disciplinary, comprehensive university with agriculture, engineering, liberal arts, basic sciences, economics, management, law, education, history and philosophy. It is now adopting a multi-level and multi-approach schooling system and intends to develop into an advanced multi-disciplinary agricultural institute with distinctive tropical and subtropical features. The university takes agricultural sciences as its priority and life sciences as its highlight. At SCAU, undergraduate and graduate programs are developing concurrently, with teaching and research as the two central tasks. The UNDP, FAO and WFC are held here. Besides, the Guangdong Dog Pageant is held here annually.

Sun Yat-Sen University[20] (中山大学 zhōng-shān-dà-xué), (Metro 2 Sun Yat-Sen University Station - Exit A) This is the most famous university in Guangzhou and Southern China. It was founded by Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China. The school now has three campuses. The old campus is green and beautiful, and has many historical sites. The north gate has a great river view.

Chinese medicine and acupuncture (中医和针灸) is taught at Guangzhou University of Traditional Medicine (广州中医药大学 guǎng-zhōu-zhōng-yī-dà-xué) [21] (Metro 2 Sanyuanli Exit B). This is one of the main universities for traditional medicine in China and attracts many overseas students.

Southern Medical University (南方医科大学）, formerly known as First Military Medical University, affiliated to the People's Liberation Army of China, is a Chinese institution of higher learning, located in Guangzhou, the capital city of Guangdong Province, China. It was founded in 1951. It became one of national key universities in 1979. Approved by the State Council and the Central Military Commission of PLA, the university came under the jurisdiction of Guangdong Province in August, 2004, thus renamed as Southern Medical University.Southern Medical University is located at the foot of picturesque Baiyun Mountain in Guangzhou. The main campus, together with its south campus in the southern suburb of Guangzhou, covers an area of nearly one million square meters. The university has been awarded the first-class garden-like university, for rows of green trees nourish and bouquets of flowers blossom on the campuses all through a year.

South China University of Technology (华南理工大学 Huánán-Lǐgōng-Dà-xué), it was established in 1952, through a reorganization process that unified the engineering schools and departments of major universities in Southern China, including the former Zhongshan University, Lingnan University, South China Joint University, and 4 others. In 1960, it was selected as one of 33 National Key Universities, under the direct administration of the Chinese Ministry of Education. The University was renamed as South China University of Technology in 1988.

South China Normal University (华南师范大学 Huá-nán-shī-fàn-dà-xué) [22] is a comprehensive university in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, in the People'Republic of China. The university is featured distinctively by both teaching and research, consisting of diverse branches of learning such as philosophy, economics, law, education, literature, history, science, technology, and management. There is also an elementary school in this university.

Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (广东外语外贸大学 Guǎng-dōng-Wài-yǔ-Wài-mào-Dà-xué) is a higher education institution in Guangzhou, Guangdong , China. The university provides research and higher education in several international studies.

Mandarin House Guangzhou School (广州美和汉语学校 Guǎng-zhōu-Měi-hé-Hàn-yǔ-Xué-xiào) [23] is China’s only school to be quality accredited by IALC and is a former winner and multiple nominee of STM’s ‘Star Award’ in the World Language Provider Category. Mandarin House Guangzhou school offers the same curriculum, courses and level of teaching quality as our other schools nationwide giving freedom and flexibility of choice. From effective Intensive & Business Courses to Private Tutoring, HSK Preparation, and Juniors Programs, assuring there is a course best suited to each levels – all backed up by international quality accreditation and world-renowned service. Mandarin House Guangzhou is in Guangzhou’s new Tianhe business district and easily accessible by subway.

Buy

Locals on the run outside the Grandview Plaza in Tianhe District. In the background is the 80-story CITIC Plaza.

Street markets

If time and weather permit, walking is perhaps the best way to see the city as the back alleys, which are littered with antiquities, are not accessible by motorized vehicles. Most trades and goods categories are concentrated in a specific area or along one main street.

Guangzhou wholesale market directory[24]. Find all kinds of professional wholesale markets in Guangzhou

Qingping Market (清平市场) Qingping Road (清平路),(Metro 1 Huangsha Exit D) It is located North from Shamian Island. Cantonese are known to eat just about any animal, and the market is world famous for its wild animal trades, although it has been tamer since the SARS outbreak. It is still a great place to go for exotic goods. The modern front of the market has quite a few stalls selling dried herbs used in Chinese Medicine. The real charm here lies just behind the modern exterior. The modern exterior is built onto a series of old historical narrow alleyways with shops selling herbs.

Cultural Street (古玩字画街 / 文化商业街) Wende Road(文德路),(Metro 1 Peasant Movement Institute). This is a good place to look for antiques and traditional Chinese artistic goods.

Haiyin Shopping District (海印专业购物区) is located at the northwest side of the Haiyin Bridge (海印大桥), selling appliances, sporting goods, cloth, fabrics, camera accessories and electronics.

Malls and shopping centers

Shangxiajiu pedestrian street

Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street (北京路步行街 běi-jīng-lù) (Metro 1, 2 Gong Yuan Qian Exits C, D) This is the main shopping thoroughfare, a pedestrian street where most stores are open from 9AM-10PM. Avoid individuals who solicit pirated DVDs and imitation goods. Don't follow anyone into the small dark alleys in between buildings to see their goods. Remember to visit Mayflower Plaza (五月花广场 wǔ-yuè-huā-guǎng-chǎng)[[26]] 68 Zhongshan 5th Road (中山五路68号), at the northern end of the Pedestrian Street. This is a place where young people hang out and shop.

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (上下九商业步行街 shàng-xià-jiǔ) (Metro 1 Changshou Lu Exits D1, D2.) This shopping area is also a showcase of traditional Cantonese architecture Qilou(骑楼). It is particularly pretty at night when lights are lit up. Prices here are generally lower than Beijing Road's, but prepare to bargain. Remember to visit Liwan Plaza (荔湾广场 lì-wān-guǎng-chǎng), located at 9 Dexing Road (德星路9号), the east end of the street. You will find a good selection of crystal there.

Grandview Mall (Zhengjia Plaza) (正佳广场 zhèng-jiā-guǎng-chǎng) [27] 228 Tianhe Road, (天河路228号),(Metro 1, 3 Tianhe Sports Center Exit D3). +86 20 3833-0098. This is the largest mall in Guangzhou, located in the heart of Tianhe District. It includes famous fashion stores and several department stores, with beautiful musical fountains and fantastic views. Number of shoppers can reach half a million a day on holidays and festivals. This mall includes many Western food chains, such as Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Pizza Hut and McDonald's. Other venues include ice skating rink, amusement park and a five-star cinema.

China Plaza (中华广场 zhōng-huá-guǎng-chǎng). 33 Zhongshan 3rd Road, (中山三路33号),(Metro 1 Martrs' Park) Located on top of a metro station, this is another large shopping mall with brand name department stores, clothing stores, electronics stores and restaurants.

Tee Mall (天河城 tiān-hé-chéng) [28] 208 Tianhe Road (天河路208号)(Metro 1 Tiyu Xilu). Located right above the metro Tiyu Xilu station, this is one of the busiest and most popular shopping mall in the heart of the city.

Zhongtian Shopping Mall (中天购物城 zhōng-tiān-gòu-wù-chéng) (天河北路 233号中信广场) (Metro 3 Linhexi Exit D) Located at CITIC Plaza near the East Train Station, this plaza is more than a place to shop and eat. The plaza has great one-stop service to meet your banking, dry cleaning, grooming and transportation ticket needs.

Friendship Store (广州友谊商店 yǒu-yí-shāng-diàn) 369 Huanshi East Road (环市东路369号). 9:45AM-9:45PM. It is one of the oldest department stores targeting foreigners in Guangzhou. You will also find its branches in Grandview Mall and Times Square on 28 Tianhe North Road (天河北路28号).

Wangfujing (王府井百货 wáng-fǔ-jǐng) [[29]] 40 Longlin Down Road (农林下路40号). 9:30AM-9:30PM. This is a branch of the famous department store in Beijing, featuring mid to high-end products.

Onelink Plaza (万菱广场 wàn-líng-guǎng-chǎng) 39 Jiefang South Road (解放南路39号) (Metro 2 Haizhu Square Exit B) At first glance, this looks like a regular shopping mall but it is actually a wholesale market. Each shop usually carries specific products with many selections of varieties. You will find products such as arts and crafts, jewelry, sporting goods, toys, key chains, collectibles and gifts of all types. Many store and boutique owners from all over the world come here to buy their products. You will get the best prices if you buy in bulk (usually 20 or more). Most shop owners will not bargain unless you buy in bulk. However, if you only buy small quantities, the prices are usually cheaper than elsewhere. Not to be confused with Onelink Centre in Tianhe.

Do

Pearl River Night Cruise

Pearl River Night Cruise (珠江夜游) Dashatou Pier (大沙头码头), Tianzi Pier (天字码头), and Xidi Pier (西堤码头) – This is a one to two hour cruise in the evening and a great way to see the Guangzhou skyline along the Pearl River, including a light show at Bai-E-Tan. Tickets for the deluxe dinner cruise can be bought from most high-end hotels. Prices from ¥50-¥200 per person. Higher end cruises usually include dinner buffet.

Ride the public buses. Cheap and safe. The electric trams are even cheaper at flat rate of ¥2. Hop on to any one of the public buses. Drivers are generally very friendly and helpful. So long as you have sufficient small change for the journey, tell the driver you are in just for a joyride. (In cantonese Yau Cheh Hor literally meaning just for the ride or just for fun. Where the journey terminates, ask anyone what buses will take you back and request the driver to let you know when to get off. So long as you sit not too far away, he (sometimes she) will tell you. Don't worry, everyone is very helpful on these buses. Being paranoid about scams and perceived crimes takes the joy out of what would otherwise be a marvellous holiday.

*Daytime River "Cruise" As cheap as ¥5, you get a ride down to the last terminal at ZhongSan University and back. Just tell the ticket seller at the jetty, in front of Riverside Hostel,you just want a joyride. On your way back,you can get off on the other side of the river at the heart of the commercial district. After spending a couple of hours walking around or even dinner, it will cost you only ¥1 to cross back to the Riverside Hostel

Festivals

Chinese New Year/Spring Festival (春节 chūn-jié) occurs on first day of first lunar month, usually in January or February. This is a 15 day celebration and some districts can be quite deserted as many migrant workers return to their home provinces. The flower fair is popular during the days before New Year.

Flower Street in Tianhe during Chinese New Year

Dragon Boat Festival (端午节 duān-wǔ-jié) on fifth day of fifth lunar month, usually in May or June. This festival commemorates the sacrifice of Qu Yuan (屈原), a famous poet who drowned himself in the river by way of making a statement against government corruption during the Warring States Period. The highlights are dragon boat racing along the Pearl River, and eating rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves (粽子).

Mid-autumn Festival (中秋节 zhōng-qiū-jié) is on the 15th day of 8th lunar month, usually in September or October. Cantonese moon cakes are enjoyed during this holiday. Lian Xiang Lou and Taotao Ju's moon cakes are especially famous (see "Eat" section). Kids' favorites are paper lanterns. Many locals also enjoy riding ferries and watching the full moon on the Pearl River.

Tomb Sweeping Day (清明节 qīng-míng-jié) is around the spring equinox, usually on April 5th. Involves visits to the family tombs for cleaning and making offerings.

Double Ninth Festival (重阳节) is on the 9th day of 9th lunar month, usually in October. Cantonese has the tradition of hiking up Baiyun Mountain. This is also the fall version of the Tomb Sweeping Day in April.

Qi Xi, or Chinese Valentine's Day (七夕 qī-xī) is on 7th day of 7th lunar month, usually in August or September. According to legend, a heavenly fairy Zhinu (织女) fell in love with a mortal farm boy Niulang (牛郎). This was forbidden; as punishment, they were only allowed to meet once a year on this day. There are usually parades and carnivals in the city celebrating the holiday. This is the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day, but it is steadily losing its appeal among the locals; many have adopted the Western Valentine’s Day on February 14th.

Winter Solstice (冬至, 过冬 dōng-zhì), which literally means the Coming of Winter is on December 22nd. Traditionally, Cantonese people observe the day with a family feast, which often includes preserved duck and sausages. However, the highlight of the day's festive dishes is hot soup served with flour dumplings (汤丸).

The Canton Fair

Canton Fair[30] (China Import and Export Commodities Fair) held twice a year in Guangzhou since 1957 and is the largest trade fair in China. It has the largest assortment of products, the largest attendance, and the largest number of business deals made at the fair. Canton Fair is held in the Pazhou Complex at 380 Yuejiang Middle Road (阅江中路380号) (Metro Line 8 Xingangdong or Pazhou station).

If you are going to the fair, book a hotel well in advance. Hotels tend to be booked and expensive during the Fair. Metro is the best transportation option to go to the fair ground, while many hotels provide free shuttle services.

Eat

Cantonese cuisine is well-known for its blend of color, fragrance, taste and presentation, and it is ranked among the top four in the country. In particular, dim sum, a delicate pastry, is famous for being simple yet delicious. Local customs, as well as a long history of contact with the West compared to other regions in China, have played a major role in the development and diversity of Cantonese cuisine. Chinese food served in Western countries is usually Cantonese food, albeit slightly adapted to Western tastes, meaning that most Western visitors from large cities will be familiar with Cantonese food to a certain extent. That being said, authentic Cantonese cuisine is also famous throughout China for another reason - Cantonese people eat absolutely anything, and it is often said that Cantonese people eat anything that has four legs other than a table, anything that flies other than an airplane, and anything that swims other than a submarine. In addition to that, various internal organs of animals are regularly eaten, such as the liver, kidneys, heart and even brain. This means that Cantonese cuisine is one of, if not the most adventurous in China due to their expansive use of exotic ingredients, and their extremely broad definition of what is considered edible. This is how Guangzhou earned the distinct name of "Eating in Guangzhou (食在广州)."

What to Eat

White Cut Chicken (白切鸡) This is one of the most popular Cantonese cuisine. It is lightly flavored to allow one to taste the true chicken meat. Many Cantonese restaurants have their signature dish based on this, such as the Wenchang Chicken from Guangzhou Restaurant, Real Taste Chicken from Bingsheng Restaurant and Qingping Chicken from various restaurants.

Yum Cha / Dim Sum (饮茶) "A pot of tea with two pieces (一盅两件)" is Guangzhou's dim sum culture. Many locals stay for hours chatting and reading newspaper with just a small order of food. The varieties of dim sum dishes in many restaurants are easily over a hundred. The bite-size quantity of each dish allows one to venture out and try new things that will satisfy one's taste bud.

Siu Mei / Shao Wei (烧味) Cantonese barbecue is famous around the world where many have seen the image of roasted ducks and chicken hanging in front of a store. Siu mei is a staple item in Cantonese restaurants. Some Varieties include barbecued pork (叉烧), roast goose (烧鹅) and roast pig (烧肉).

Seafood (海鲜) Eating fresh seafood the Cantonese way is a good way to explore Cantonese culture. From picking live fish or lobsters in front of your eyes to eating the sea creatures with their heads attached, this is a great advanture for any visitors.

Food

Guangzhou Restaurant (广州酒家), 2 Wenchang South Road (文昌南路2号) (Metro 1 Changshou Lu), ☎+86 20 8138-0388, [31]. This Cantonese family restaurant is famous for its signature dishes Wenchang Chicken and special baby pig. It has several branches in the city. Other locations include 20 Binjiang West Road (滨江西路20号) and 112 Tiyu East Road (体育东路112号).

Lian Xiang Lou (莲香楼), (Metro 1 Changshou Lu; Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street), ☎+86 20 8181-1638, [32]. M-F 6:30AM-10PM, Sa-Su 6:30AM-11PM. Founded in 1889, Lian Xiang Lou is known for its tasty dim sum and pastries. There are now more than 20 bakery stores throughout the city.

Pan Xi Restaurant (泮溪酒家), 151 Longjin West Road (龙津西路151号), ☎+86 20 8181-5718. Located in the heart of the Old Guangzhou, this Cantonese Restaurant serves dim sum next to trickling streams and stunning architecture. Try one of their famous dumplings shaped like a rabbit's head.

Datong Restaurant (大同酒家), 63 Yanjiang Road (沿江路63号), ☎+86 20 8188-8988. This time-honored restaurant spans all 8 floors of the old building, overlooking the Pearl River. The place has been around for a long time and is a favorite among locals.

Taotao Ju Restaurant (陶陶居), 20 Dishifu Road (第十甫路20号) (Metro 1 Changshou Lu; Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street), ☎+86 20 8138-9632. This is the oldest traditional dim sum restaurant in the city but nowadays, their food not up to standard as their chef left for high end restaurant in Hong Kong. Dim sum hours are still busy, so reservation is recommended. Specialty includes moon cakes and other traditional Cantonese pastries.

Chuan Guo Yan Yi (川国演义), 140-148 Tiyu East Road (体育东路140-148号), ☎+86 20 3887-9879. The restaurant specializes in Sichuan (Szechwan) hot pot. It is busy on Friday and Saturday nights. This high end restaurant is popular among expats and those who like hot and spicy food.

Wenji Restaurant (文记壹心鸡), 10 Boahua Road (荔湾区宝华路旋源桥10号) (Metro 1 Changshou Lu; Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street), ☎+86 20 8172-8887. As the place was established by the former chefs from Qingping Restaurant, they have the original Qingping Chicken on the menu.

Vegetarian

Fo World Sushishe (佛世界素食社), 2-8 Niunaichang St, Tongfu Middle Road (同福中路牛奶厂街二圣宫前2-8号) (Metro 2 The 2nd Workers' Cultural Palace), ☎+86 20 8424-3590. 7AM-9PM. The restaurant is hidden in a small street, this place is especially crowded on the 1st and 15th of each month (lunar calendar). Part of the profits is given to the neighboring temple.

Sharmaji Vegetarian Indian Restaurant, ☎+8615915727374, [34]. One of the most famous Vegetarian Indian restaurants in Guangzhou. Founded in 2001, it serves vegetarian Indian buffet only, located in the Indian ghetto in Guangzhou, near the Dong Yue Hotel. Located on the 4th floor of the Gitic Hotel. No meat or alcohol served.

Southeast Asian

Cow and Bridge Thai Restaurant (牛桥泰菜), 2/F, Xiang Long Garden, 181 Tianhe North Road (天河北路181号祥龙花园二楼) (Metro 3 Linhexi), ☎+86 20 8525-0821. This famous Thai restaurant offers many varieties of Thai dishes. Ask for the more fiery version of your meal, if you're used to Thai cuisine, as the dishes are somewhat localized.

Tai Man Guan (泰满贯), 7F Tower North East, Teemall, 208 Tianhe Road (天河路208号天河东北塔7楼) (Metro 3 Tiyu Xilu). This is located in the Tee Mall in Tianhe. The Thai restaurant offers many varieties of Thai dishes with great curry and noodle dishes.

Indian

Vaastu (雅仕度印度餐厅), ☎+86 20 3825-8181, [36]. This high end restaurant opened its door in 2008. It serves traditional Indian food with vegetarian dishes available.

Sharmaji Vegetarian Indian Restaurant, ☎+8615915727374, [37]. One of the most famous Vegetarian Indian restaurants in Guangzhou. Founded in 2001, it serves vegetarian Indian buffet only, located in the Indian ghetto in Guangzhou, near the Dong Yue Hotel. Located on the 4th floor of the Gitic Hotel. No meat or alcohol served.

Western

Lucy's Cafe & Restaurant, 3 Shamian South St (沙面南街3号) (Metro 2 Huangsha), ☎+86 20 8121-5106. Located near the White Swan hotel, Lucy's Cafe & Restaurant is an established American restaurant on Shamian Island. They serve everything from burgers to pasta to Tex-mex, and portions are large. This is a favorite for adoption families who stays on the island.

Bosphorus Turkish Restaurants, 1 Jianshe 6th Road (Metro 5 Xiaobei Exit A), ☎+86 20 8376-7644, [39]. 10AM-11PM. There are two location in GZ. Bosphorus Premium Located in ex Tang Club , and Bosphours Xiaobei located in Zhaoqing Building , it has delicious and halal foods. The third location in Yiwu city . The Bosphorus premium has two floor, having lunch and dinner at 2. floor, smoke and coffee at 3. floor. The portions are large, price are acceptable according to food quality. This is a favorite for eating doner (one of famous Turkish food) and kebabs especially Iskender.

13 Factories (十三行), 7 Tianhe North Street (体育西路天河北街七号) (Metro 3 Linhexi exit B), ☎+86 20 3884 9230. 11AM-12AM. Menu has a heavy American Southern influence, with authentic gumbo, jambalaya, po' boys and pulled pork all on offer, but French, Spanish and Italian dishes are also served. It is a favor of both expats and locals.

Cafe Veranda, 122 Liuhua Road (流花路122号中国大酒店), ☎+86 20 8666-6888. 6.30am-10pm. This place serves a lavish international buffet and also has a la carte menu. All Western and Asian delights can be found here and the breakfast buffet is simply excellent.

Danny's Italian American Restaurant, 4F Home Garden Mall, 188 Huangpu West Avenue (黄埔大道西188号维家思广场四楼) (Metro APM Huangpu Dadao), ☎+86 20 8756-1993, [41]. Established in Guangzhou since 1997, the restaurant serves Italian and American dishes including pasta and pizza along with other western food. Chinese dishes are also available. Delivery is also available.

Gail's Place, 1/F Stars Building, 172 Huasui Road (珠江新城华穗路172号,星辰大厦首层02铺), ☎+86 20 8350-1667, [46]. The family owned restaurant has a huge western food menu with an accent on American and fusion style dishes. For those who celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, Gail's offers a fully cooked turkey with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce.

African

Best-Way African Restaurant, No. 003 1/F Jindu Bldg, 99 Guangyuan West Road (opposite Canaan Market), ☎+86 20 6114-7501. This Nigerian restaurant serves cuisine cooked Igbo style (try the semo and egusi soup). It is a bit out of the way (down some narrow stairs and under a concrete overpass), but the ambiance is cozy inside with Nigerian music playing.

Foreign chains

Foreign fast food, ice cream and coffee chains are well established in Guangzhou. These include Subway (赛百味), Dairy Queen (冰雪皇后), Saizeriya (Japanese Italian Food Chain), Papa John's Pizza (棒约翰), KFC (肯德基), Pizza Hut (必胜客), McDonald's (麦当劳), Burger King (汉堡王), Starbucks (星巴克) and Häagen-Dazs (哈根达斯). Most of these can be found in the Zhengjia Plaza (See "Shop").

Convenience Stores

Convenience stores are on almost every street corner and most are open 24 hours. Major convenience store chains include 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Circle-K and C-Store. Prices are a little higher than in local shops or supermarkets, particularly at 7-Eleven. Some FamilyMarts and Circle-K's do not sell cigarettes, but C-store does. Corner's Deli is a specialty food chain store with several locations in the city with a good selection of imported foods. One of the locations is at unit 6, Backstreet, CITIC Plaza.

Supermarket Chains

Carrefour (家乐福) This French hypermarket has four stores in Guangzhou. One of them is at Kangwang Road (康王中路656号) near Chenjiaci station. It is cheap and has a good selection of products.

Jusco (吉之岛)There are several locations including Tee Mall at Tiyu West Road and Linhe Middle Road near the East Train Station. This Japanese chain has a good selection of imported groceries.

Park 'n' Shop (百佳) This Hong Kong chain has several locations ranging from convenience stores to hypermarkets. The largest stores are in the shopping mall above Metro Changshou Lu Station and at Tianhe North Road close to the Longkouxi bus stop. It is a little more expensive but has a good selection of imported groceries.

TESCO This British hypermarket is located on Zhongshan 6th Road above the Metro Ximenkou Station. The store spreads over 4 floors and the price is reasonable.

Trust-Mart (好又多) The lower-end market has numerous locations in Guangzhou and it is recent acquired by Wal-Mart (沃尔玛). It will be soon re-branded to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has been upgrading the stores, and the prices while they are at it. This chain has a large stock of non-food items but the grocery selection is limited. It is often crowded on the weekends.

Vanguard (华润万家) This is the flagship operating supermarket chains of China Resources. It is the third largest supermarket chain in Hong Kong. It operates approximately 450 stores in China. There are over 20 stores in Guangzhou.

Lotus (卜蜂莲花) There are several locations ranging from convenience stores to hypermarkets. One of the locations is at 399 Chebei Road (车陂路399号).

Drink

Bar Street at Bai-E-Tan

When it comes to drinks, Guangzhou is one of the best cities in China to knock back a few. With a relatively large population of foreigners here, the city offers a wide variety of nightspots that cater to all tastes.

Tsing Tao and Zhu Jiang are the two major Chinese beer brands that are sold almost everywhere. Both are fairly standard light lagers. Carlsberg is also brewed in Guangzhou, which explains the reasonably large amount of Carlsberg taps in the bars.

Pubs

Nightlife at Shangxiajiu in Liwan District.

Covent Garden, 广州珠江新城华强路2号富力盈丰大厦首层 (Located on the small road across from Ocean Palace on Jinsui Road), ☎+86 20 38065757. 10AM to 3AM. British pub in the Zhujiang New Town. Recently won the best new pub in Guangzhou at the PRD awards. Large selection of cocktails and whiskeys with pints of Tiger Beer from ¥25 during happy hour, 4PM-8:30PM.

Elephant and Castle, (next door to Hill Bar opposite the Garden Hotel). British style pub serving Kilkenny, Guinness and a variety of bottled and draft beers. Prices are reasonable for the area, especially during Happy Hour. 22.

Hill Bar, (Outside Baiyun Hotel and across from Garden Hotel). Reasonable price for drinks and live band performances nightly.¥35 pints.

Hooley's Irish Pub and Restaurant, Zhujiang New Town, ☎+86 20 3886-2675, [47]. Hooley's is an Irish themed pub with a focus on live music performances (rock, pop, folk and jazz). Serves Irish, Italian and fusion dishes. Bakes its own bread. Music Friday to Saturday with open mic sessions on Wednesdays and Ladies Night on Thursdays. Hooley's has closed and will re-open in the Zhu Jiang New Town area in late December early January.

Sleeping Wood Cafe. (Happy hour before 8PM). Cozy restaurant pub next to the Holiday Inn with friendly English speaking staff. Serves western food and all kinds of alcoholic drinks. One-for-one pint-sized Tsing Tao draft beer during happy hour. Good place to unwind, especially in the open area. 2nd location along Pearl River.¥25-¥30.

Sapphire Lounge, 122 Liuhua Road (流花路122号中国大酒店), ☎+86 20 8666-6888. 3:00PM to late. Located on the 4th floor of China Hotel, Sapphire Lounge serves an extensive selection of classic and contemporary martinis, cocktails, wines, liquor and more in a chic and upbeat atmosphere. Perfect for after-work drinks or a night out.

Dance clubs

C:Union (喜窝), 115 Shuiyin Road (水荫路115号天溢大厦副大堂1楼). Great place to hear atypical live music like reggae or classic rock. Bar has both an indoor section consisting of a dance floor and couches and an outdoor section with patio seating and recently-added new basement. Wide beer selection and bartenders measure all drinks out in plain view. Early on the bar is populated mostly by locals, however as the night progresses the bar quickly fills with expats. Patrons tend to be very friendly open to meeting new people. There is usually at least one English speaking bartender at each station.¥25-¥50 beer, ¥15 shots.

The Cave (墨西哥餐厅酒吧), 360 Huanshi East Road (环市东路360号珠江大厦东侧) (basement on the end of the Zhujiang Tower (珠江大厦) near Garden Hotel), ☎+86 20 8386-3660. This is a favorite expat hangout. The resident DJ spins a wide range of music. The Cave features exotic dance performances, including live-python dance.¥30 standard drink.

Club NaNa, Tianlun Garden, 26 Jianshe 4th Road (建设4马路26号天伦花园) (up the street from Oggi's Pizza). Packs a variety of music, well-known throughout Guangzhou for its wild parties, including a singles lock and key party, a secret costume party, and live hip-hop shows. The owners may be seen handing out free drinks. Beware of the tequila shots. Begins as a largely Chinese club but around 11:30PM, the shaking switches from dice to dancing and it becomes a mix of East and West.

Gipsy King Bar (大篷车酒吧), 360 Huanshi East Road (环市东路360号珠江大厦西地下) (opposite end of the Zhujiang Building from the Cave), ☎+86 20 8387-5177. Underground bar similar to the Cave. Many local "working" girls sashay around. There are individual dance performances at one corner of the bar, while group performances start on the main dance floor at 10PM.¥30 standard drink.

Penthouse. High class bar with dance floor. Variety of sparkling wine ensures you can live it up with standards. The DJs blast the hottest music.

Heihei Club, 2 Qiaoguang Road, Yuexiu District.. Good crowd, blend of locals and foreigners. Good music though a little pricy. It was reported that pickpocketing is rampant here.

True Colors (本色), 276 Yanjiang Zhong Lu ((200m east of the Tianzi Matou), Yuexiu District (8373 5858)). Club has dozens of tables on the floor for groups to drink and play local dice games. The DJ booth overlooks the floor and between it and the massive windows runs a strip that can rise up for live performances and for models to runway walk. There's a dance floor that's maybe 25 square meters where locals and expats dance. DJs come from all over the world and play their own mix of house occasionally punctuated with hip-hop.

Tea houses

The culture of tea drinking, also known as Yum Cha (饮茶), runs deep in Guangzhou. After all, the city was at the center of the massive tea trade that existed between China and Europe during the 19th century.

Simple Love Tea Shop (十月红奶茶), #102, 94 Tianhe South Road (Down from the south gate of TeeMall). 3PM-2AM. This is a Taiwanese style tea and coffee shop. There are about five other locations in the city.

People's Cakes & Coffee. Enjoy cakes and coffee at this Western coffee shop run by Koreans.

Yuexiu, #102, 17 Jianshe 6th Road (建设六马路17号102房), ☎+86 20 8376-6677.

Taojin, 98 Taojin South Road, ☎+86 20 8348-8085.

Starbucks, [49]. The Seattle chain has been in china for over 10 years, with more than 25 locations in Guangzhou alone. The benefit to many travelers is the free Wi-Fi. Popular locations include Taojin Road by the Guangzhou Friendship Store, Huanshi East Road in the Peace World Plaza, across the street from the Garden Hotel, and Shamian Island. Check their website for complete listing. Check out some local fusion items including a wide selection of Chinese tea, Green Tea Tiramisu and Shredded Ginger Pork Panini.

Sleep

NOTE: From April 15th to May 5th and October 15th to November 5th are the annual Guangzhou International Trade Fairs in which room rates in hotels and hostels will usually be hiked up. Prices vary every year and you are advised to secure your bed before going to Guangzhou in those two seasons

This guide uses the following price ranges for a standard double room:

Budget

Under ¥200

Mid-range

¥200-500

Splurge

Over ¥500

Budget

Unlike many other big cities in China, Guangzhou has far limited choices on youth hostels. Most hostels in the city are illegal operated and unlicensed, mostly located in a residential apartment building. The management usually discourages most socializing activity, worrying any noises may lead to the complaint from their neighbors and result in the government's crackdown.

Guangzhou Riverside Youth Hostel (广州江畔国际青年旅舍), 15 Changdi Street (长堤路15号) (Metro 1 Fangcun Exit B1), ☎+86 20 2239-2500. A HI-affiliated hostel located on the south side (less developed) of the Pearl River. It takes a 15-20 minute walk to the metro station; also accessible by river ferry (until 10pm). Spacious common areas but limited kitchen facilities. Some rooms are not equipped with lockers and theft reports are frequently heard.Doubles ¥178, dorm bed ¥65; ¥96 Canton Fair.

Aaishe Youth Hostel (广州爱舍青年旅舍), Tian shou lu, building number 6（天寿路6号）, apt at 10th floor, (A B)(华辉阁10AB）, ☎13828437650 (ran_koketi@hotmail.com), [50]. checkin: 12:00; checkout: 12:00. 40 till 60 yuan An apartment converted hostel, it has 20 beds, free wifi, a/c and 24-hour hot water. The area is residential and may not be easy to find. It is close to Guangzhou East Railway Station but located on the north side of Tianhe, which is away from tourist attractions. Expect 10 minute walk to the closest Linhexi metro station.</sleep>

Guangzhou Journey House Youth Hostel (广州征途青年旅舍), Room 27F, building 1,Jiayiyuan Garden, 445 Tianhe North Road (天河北路445号嘉怡苑1栋27F房), ☎+86 20 3880-4573 (liliwen6@hotmail.com), [51]. checkin: 1:00PM; checkout: 12:00PM. The apartment-converted hostel is more like a dorm for Chinese job-seekers and socializing activities are usually discouraged in this hostel due to the worry to the government's crackdown. The area is residential and may not be easy to find. Close to the Guangzhou East Railway Station but away from tourist attractions. Dorm room ¥50, singles with ¥140 (¥180 Canton Fair).

Mid-range

Guangdong Victory Hotel (广东胜利宾馆), 53 Shamian North Street (沙面北街53号) (Metro 1 Huangsha Station Exit D, use pedestrian bridge to Shamian Island), ☎+86 20 8121-6688, [52]. The hotel is located on Shamian Island. It consists of the East building and West building. It has very clean rooms and western-style buffet breakfast.¥420.

Zhong Qiao Hotel Guangzhou (中桥宾馆), 103 Chigang Road (赤岗路103号), ☎+86 20 6276-4628, [53]. The hotel is close to Pazhou Trade Center where Canton Fair is held. Check their website for other locations in the chain.

Dongyue Fashion Hotel (东岳时尚酒店), 10 Tangdong East Road (天河区棠东东路10号), ☎+86 20 2886-4999, [54]. It offers clean and comfortable rooms that are furnished with all the essentials for a restful stay.¥178.

Binghua Hotel (冰花酒店), 2 Tianhe North Road (天河北路2号), ☎+86 208750-2888. The hotel is located at the gateway to Tianhe. Hooley's Irish Pub and Restaurant is on the ground floor.

Bostan Hotel (广东博斯坦宾馆), 76 Tianhe North Road (天河北路76号), ☎+86 20 3878-2888. The hotel has multifunction halls and meeting rooms for business or personal affairs, as well as KTV rooms, a beauty salon, and restaurants that serve Xinjiang Muslim cuisines.

Hotel Canton (广州大厦), 374 Beijing Road (广州市北京路374号) (Metro 1/2 Gongyuanqian), ☎+86 20 8318-9888, [57]. This was once a glorious hotel, but it is now a bit outdated. However, it is located just North of the Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street.¥390.

Splurge

China Hotel, A Marriott Hotel (中国大酒店), 122 Liuhua Road (流花路100号) (Metro 2 Yuexiu Park), ☎+86 20 8666-6888, [63]. The 5-Star Luxury Marriott Hotel is located in the heart of central Guangzhou. It features 850 guestrooms, 8 Food and Beverage outlets, Executive Lounge and Shopping Arcade. An entrance to the Metro is just outside.¥650.

Garden Hotel (花园酒店), 368 Huanshi East Road (环市东路368号), ☎+86 20 8333-8989, [64]. The hotel has standard hotel rooms as well as apartments and offices for rent. Deluxe rooms are clean but basic; elite rooms are newly renovated and attractive. The Carousel Restaurant offers excellent dinner buffet with panoramic views of Guangzhou on the top level. The hotel also has various Shops, HSBC and Bank of China branches and a bus station serving express buses to the Guangzhou airport, the Hong Kong airport and nearby cities such as Zhuhai.

White Swan Hotel (白天鹅宾馆), 1 Shamian South St (沙面南街1号) (Metro 1 Huangsha), ☎+86 20 8188-6968, [66]. On the banks of the Pearl River on the quiet Shamian Island, complimented by a charming park nearby where locals can be found doing tai chi. Surrounding the hotel are blocks of little shops run by locals willing to bargain. This landmark hotel is now closed for renovations until late 2012.

Asia International Hotel (亚洲国际大酒店), 326 Huangshi East Road, Sec 1 (环市东路326号), ☎+86 20 6128-8888, [69]. One of a handful of hotels that feature separate bath and shower areas in a standard room. Internet access is free but slow. It also features Guangzhou's highest revolving restaurant on the top level.

Holiday Inn City Center Guangzhou (文化假日酒店), 28 Guangming Road (环市东华侨新村光明路28号) (Metro 5 Taojin), ☎+86 20 6128-6868, [73]. Not exactly the newest, biggest or cheapest hotel around, but does offer a convenient location. Rooms are clean, have comfortable beds and pillows, and a good selection of TV channels. Internet access is stable and costs ¥80 a day. Priority Club platinum members get automatic upgrades to executive rooms (subject to availability) and access to the executive lounge. An airline ticketing office and a Hertz car rental counter are available. There's also another Holiday Inn at 188 Dishifu Road.

The Westin Guangzhou (天誉威斯汀酒店), 6 Linhe Middle Road (林和中路6号) (Metro 3 Linhexi), ☎+86 20 2886-6868, [74]. The luxury chain has 448 rooms and suites. It is located next to the U.S. Consulate. It is also a short walk to the East Rail Station.

Dragon Lake Princess Hotel (九龙湖公主酒店), 3 Shanqian Avenue, Huadong Town, Huadu District (花都区花东镇山前大道3号九龙湖社区), ☎+86 20 3690-8888 (hotel@dragonlake.com.cn), [75]. Designed and built in the style of a European town, the hotel is located in the Dragon Lake Resort. River Main in the village, It offers accommodation, dining, meeting, amusement, sports and leisure facilities. The hotel has bus route from and to Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The facility is beautiful and relaxing, but it is 35 minutes away from the city center.¥750.

Hanfeng International Hotel (汉风国际大酒店), 6 Tianhe North Road (天河北路6号). The hotel offers free broadband Internet with generously furnished rooms and conference suites. The hotel is currently closed for renovations.

Stay safe

Guangzhou, one of the first open port in China, is generally tolerant of cultural differences. Crimes that target foreigners are rarely heard despite the city's reputation for petty crimes. Pickpockets could happen in shopping area and transportation hubs but it is easy to manage with common sense. Scams that target foreigners, if any, do not seem common in Guangzhou.

As the wealthiest province of China, it has attracted enormous immigrant workers both from other provinces and overseas.
The local police has its Arabic- and English-speaking forces to deal with the rising drug trade involved with foreigners who are not exempted from death penalty for drug trafficking.

Traffic conditions in Guangzhou have drastically improved in recent years and rules are practiced - relatively. However, like everywhere else in China, cars do not yield to pedestrians and zebra crossings are for display only.

Banking

ATMs that accept foreign credit or debit cards are common in shopping malls and tourist areas. Withdrawal is available in Chinese currency only. Most banks in the city center also accept exchanges from your local currencies to ¥. Your passport is required for this service. Some banks allow you to change back to your local currency with the original exchange memo.

Bank of China (中国银行) [79] There is a branch inside Garden Hotel. ATM is available on the ground floor of White Swan Hotel and over 100 locations in Guangzhou. Their ATMs are the best bet for using foreign cards.

Citi[81] Unit 101, Fortune Plaza, 118 Tiyu East Road. +86-20 3898-1688. This bank has a full service branch with currency exchange services and 24-hour ATMs.

Laundry

Few lower end hotels and hostels have coin-operated self-service laundry room. Self-service laundromats are not available on the streets, although dry clean and laundry stores are available to clean your clothes. Normally you can drop your clothes off and pick them up the next day. One laundry chain is Tiantian (天天洗衣), which is conveniently located in most Metro stations. There are many stores on Shamian Island that have laundry service. An average load of laundry costs about ¥100.

In other parts of the city, there are laundry and dry clean shops sprinkled throughout neighborhoods. An average load should cost no more than ¥40. If you are doing sheets and blankets, they should charge no more then ¥10 for a blanket, ¥30 for a quilt. Dry-cleaning a sweater is about ¥8.

Television

Guangzhou Television (GZTV) [82] has an "English" channel, now called Guangzhou I Channel (but still "English" according to the Chinese name), offering entertainment and cultural programs from around the world, mostly dubbed in Mandarin and subtitled in Chinese. Hong Kong’s international channels, TVB Pearl and ATV World, available in most hotels, have a great selection of programs from the UK and US, plus news at 7:30pm and late (11pm or later) every day.

Newspapers and Magazines

The China Daily and/or Global Times are the two only English language newspapers available in Guangzhou (unless you go to a library), and both can be found on newsstands throughout the city. There are several bookstores throughout the city that sell current English and Foreign periodicals. The South China Morning Post from Hong Kong is also available by subscription only. South China TALK is a monthly English-language magazine based in Guangzhou.

Places of worship

All the religious sites listed in the See section are open to worshippers.

Christian: Guangzhou International Christian Fellowship [83] holds weekly service on Sundays at 10AM for expats from around the world in English. You must show your travel documents to enter since residents are not allowed there due to local laws. The meeting location is Star Hotel (景星酒店) near the East Train Station. Phone: +86 1366 234 6904. Hotel Address: 89 Linhe West Road (林和西路89号). (Metro 1 East Railway Station)

Gym

Guangzhou has over 15 branches of Total Fitness [84]. One of the locations is at the 8th floor of Grandview Mall (Zhengjia Plaza 正佳广场). Many locations are close to metro stations. Membership costs about ¥3000-4000 a year. The Guangzhou Marriott (see sleep) has a complete new gym with Star Trac equipment, a swimming pool, tennis court, sauna and steam.

Mail

China Post, the official post office, is your best bet for regular letters and postcards. For packages, other than the post office, there are many shipping centers around the city who are agents for DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT and EMS. There are usually shipping counters at higher-end hotels. Ask your hotel for the nearest shipping locations.

Post Office (China Post) - Post Office is usually slow and little English is spoken. EMS service is available through the post office. The following are locations close to tourist areas.

Get out

The dwellings of overseas Chinese from the early 20th century in Kaiping (开平). Take a 2-hour bus form Fengcun Bus Station (芳村汽车站) (Metro 1 Kengkou Exit B) ¥60.

Foshan (佛山) is only an hour away from Guangzhou. Famous for its Ancestry Temple (祖庙), it is also the home to legendary martial art master Wong Fei Hong. Take the Foshan Metro at the Xilang Station of Guangzhou Metro Line 1.

Hong Kong (香港) is 2-3 hours away, depending on the modes of transportation.

Humen (虎门) in Dongguan (东莞) is famous for its Opium War era relics (虎门销烟). It is a bridge away from the Nansha District. Most trains going to Shenzhen or Hong Kong stop at Dongguang.

Shenzhen (深圳) is located on the border with Hong Kong. It is one of the first special economic zones in China. Check out theme parks such as Windows of the World, the China Folk Culture Villages and Splendid China. Bus and train services are run frequently. The trip will take 1 to 2 hours. Tickets cost around ¥60 - ¥80.

Zhuhai (珠海) is another special economic zone to the south bordering Macau. You can get a bus ride from any of the major bus stations in the city. You can also take a high speed train at the South Station (Metro 2 Guangzhou South Railway Station) and it only takes about 45 minutes (¥44).